True North (A-ha album) explained

True North
Type:studio
Artist:A-ha
Cover:A-ha - True North.png
Border:yes
Recorded:November 2021
Studio:Bodø, Norway
Length:51:26
Producer:Magne Furuholmen, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy
Prev Year:2017

True North is the eleventh studio album by Norwegian band A-ha. It was released on 21 October 2022 by RCA and Sony Music.[1] [2] The album's opening track "I'm In" was released as the first single on 8 July 2022.[1]

True North is accompanied by a film with the same title featuring a-ha recording the album during November 2021 in Bodø, Norway. Paul Waaktaar-Savoy has said of the project: "First, we had the idea to record a studio session live. Then, to film a studio session. That grew into more of a production with the Norwegian orchestra, the Arctic Philharmonic, who we have collaborated with."[1]

Background and recording

A documentary titled a-ha: The Movie was released in 2021 and tells the story of the band and deals with both their success and the problems, such as personal rifts between members.[3]

In January 2022, it was announced that a-ha had signed a recording contract with Sony Music imprint RCA Records in Germany to release the True North album. The concept of recording an album and an accompanying film was inspired by Bruce Springsteen's Western Stars (2019). Furuholmen wanted to create a Norwegian version of Western Stars and has called the project a "musical letter from our home country" and described the album's themes as "nature and the environment".[4] [5]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 12 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 5,109 copies in its first week. It is a-ha's 17th top 75 album on the chart.[6]

Reception

The album has had a positive reception from numerous publications, including Rolling Stone, musicOMH, laut.de, Hymn and Retropop.[7]

Personnel

a-ha

Additional musicians

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Italian Albums (FIMI)[8] 72
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[9] 51

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] 86

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 4 July 2022 . New a-ha single "I'm In" drops on 8 July! . 14 July 2022 . A-ha.com.
  2. Web site: Kiß . Jonas . 21 January 2022 . RCA Germany gewinnt a-ha für weltweiten Album- und Film-Release . live . http://web.archive.org/web/20220127153158/https://beta.musikwoche.de/details/467934 . 2022-01-27 . 2024-01-29 . Musik Woche . Mediabiz . German.
  3. Web site: Mitchell . Wendy . 2021-06-11 . Director Thomas Robsahm talks 'A-ha the Movie' ahead of Tribeca premiere . 2024-01-29 . Screen Daily.
  4. Web site: 20 September 2021 . Superstjernene har store planer når de kommer til Bodø i høst . subscription . live . http://web.archive.org/web/20211016051819/https://www.an.no/superstjernene-har-store-planer-nar-de-kommer-til-bodo-i-host-vi-onsker-a-vise-verden-denne-delen-av-norge/s/5-4-1475934 . 2021-10-16 . 2024-01-29 . an.no . . Swedish.
  5. Web site: 14 September 2022 . A-ha's Magne Furuholmen on why the band decided to make new music: 'We have a newfound freedom' . 16 October 2022 . Virgin Radio.
  6. Web site: Jones . Alan . 28 October 2022 . Charts analysis: Taylor Swift scores ninth consecutive No.1 with huge sales for Midnights . 31 October 2022 . Music Week.
  7. Web site: Gotto . Connor . 2022-10-21 . a-ha – True North . 2022-10-26 . Retro Pop . en-GB.
  8. Web site: Album – Classifica settimanale WK 43 (dal 21.10.2022 al 27.10.2022). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 29 October 2022.
  9. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 2, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. 2 November 2022.
  10. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts 2022. GfK Entertainment charts. de. 16 December 2022.

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